Posted by 
Your Guide to Creating Communities of Loyal Fans And Customers through Discord
Discord started as a platform for gamers to chat and build communities, but it has evolved into a powerful tool for businesses and marketers to connect with their audience in meaningful ways.
If you’re not already using Discord as part of your marketing strategy, you might be missing out on a great opportunity to build loyal communities that can convert into long-term customers.
Why Discord?
Unlike other social media platforms where interactions are fleeting, Discord allows you to create a centralized community around your brand. This fosters deeper relationships with your audience, enabling direct communication, real-time feedback, and opportunities for exclusive content.
The platform’s unique combination of text, voice, and video features makes it ideal for businesses looking to interact more personally with their customers.
You can use Discord to build a sense of belonging and trust, which is critical in converting community members into loyal customers.
Step 1: Start with a Purpose
The first thing to do is define the purpose of your Discord community. Are you using it for customer support? A place for like-minded people to share ideas and content? A direct channel to promote your products and services?
The clearer your community’s purpose, the easier it will be to attract and retain members who align with your goals.
For example, if you run a fitness brand, your Discord server could be a space for users to share workout tips, progress photos, and success stories. By fostering this environment, you make your brand an integral part of their journey.
Step 2: Personalize Your Discord Server
One mistake many marketers make when they join Discord is thinking of it as just another forum. Discord is much more dynamic. You can treat your server like your brand’s home base, which means personalizing it to reflect your brand values.
Here are some ways to make your server stand out:
- Create Custom Emojis: Design custom emojis that represent your brand. Whether it’s your logo, product icons, or something fun like your mascot, custom emojis make your community feel unique.
- Color and Theme: Pay attention to your server’s appearance. Use the server’s banner and logo to reinforce your brand identity. A consistent color theme across channels can subconsciously reinforce your message.
- Role-Based Channels: Offer different access levels to users based on their roles. For example, loyal customers or “VIPs” can have exclusive access to special offers, behind-the-scenes content, or private chats with your team.
Step 3: Create a Value-Driven Community
At the heart of every successful Discord server is value. Your community members need to feel that joining your server is worth their time and engagement. One way to create value is through exclusive content.
Example: Exclusive Access and Content
Let’s say you run an online course business. By offering Discord members first access to new courses, exclusive video content, or free mini-webinars, you can incentivize them to stay engaged. Unlike other platforms, Discord offers the ability to create real-time live discussions, allowing members to ask questions and receive immediate answers.
Another valuable tip is to introduce member-driven content. Allow your community members to host live events, share their projects, or start discussions. This encourages organic growth and shifts some of the engagement workload off your team while still maintaining high activity in the server.
Step 4: Leverage Bots for Engagement and Support
One of the lesser-known aspects of Discord is its integration with bots. Bots can automate tasks, increase engagement, and provide customer support, freeing up time for you to focus on growing your business.
- Welcome Bots: Use a bot to greet new members and provide a guide on how to get the most out of your server. This immediately makes newcomers feel valued and sets a positive first impression.
- Polls and Giveaways: Bots like Pollmaster can help you run regular polls to engage the community. Ask members what content they’d like to see or run product-related polls that help you tailor offerings. Giveaway bots can be used to run contests, offering members chances to win discounts or free products in exchange for participation.
- Moderation Bots: Bots like MEE6 can handle administrative tasks, including moderation. They can enforce server rules, delete spammy messages, and even reward active members with custom ranks.
Step 5: Run Exclusive Events
Events are a fantastic way to boost engagement and excitement around your brand. Discord allows you to host a variety of interactive events that provide immediate value to your members.
Live Q&A Sessions
If you have an expert in your niche, host a live Q&A session. For example, if you’re selling a software product, bring in one of your developers to answer questions about upcoming features. This builds transparency and allows your customers to feel heard.
Example: A Brand New Product Launch via Discord
Imagine you’re about to release a new product. By announcing the launch first on Discord, you can create buzz and exclusivity. Invite your members to a live launch event where they get a sneak peek at the product before anyone else.
Not only does this create excitement, but it also rewards your most loyal followers with insider access, making them feel like an integral part of your brand’s journey.
Step 6: Foster a Sense of Belonging
Building loyalty in your Discord server requires more than just posting announcements and waiting for people to engage. You need to actively foster a sense of belonging. Here’s how:
- Recognize Members Publicly: Whether it’s creating a “Member of the Month” award or calling out a particularly helpful community member, recognition goes a long way in building a loyal community.
- Collaborate on Projects: Get members involved in creative projects. This could be a group-led content series, artwork contests, or collaborative product reviews. For example, if you run an online store, you could ask your community members to create reviews and testimonials for your products, rewarding them with discounts or exclusive content in return.
- Shared Challenges: Another idea is to organize challenges where members work together or compete. For instance, if you run a fitness-related server, a 30-day workout challenge where users post updates and progress pictures could create a sense of camaraderie. Offering a prize for the winner is a great incentive for participation.
Step 7: Promote Your Discord Server Strategically
It’s not enough to just build the perfect server—you need to bring people in. Here are some strategies to attract new members to your Discord community:
- Social Media Shoutouts: Regularly mention your Discord server on your social media channels. Share content highlights, event announcements, or testimonials from current members to entice people to join.
- Website Integration: Add a Discord widget to your website. This allows visitors to see real-time conversations happening in your server and easily join.
- Email Marketing: Include a call-to-action in your emails inviting your subscribers to join your Discord community. Highlight the exclusive content and benefits of joining.
- Collaborate with Other Discord Communities: Partner with complementary brands or influencers who have their own servers. You can cross-promote each other’s Discords, creating a win-win situation.
Things to Remember
Marketing through Discord allows you to build deeper connections with your audience, create a sense of community, and convert your members into loyal customers.
By personalizing your server, providing value-driven content, leveraging automation, and hosting interactive events, you can turn Discord into a powerful tool for growing your business.
The #1 Takeaway
The key to success is not just to get people in the door, but to give them a reason to stay, engage, and ultimately trust your brand. When you nurture it properly, your Discord community can become your greatest marketing asset.